Today, a memorial service was held for the late Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona. The respected statesman passed away this past Saturday, succumbing to brain cancer.

Per McCain’s request, his longtime friend and political opponent former Vice President John Biden was asked to speak about the senator’s life and work. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are also slated to eulogize McCain at his upcoming funeral.

Biden gave a deeply moving speech, celebrating McCain’s profound patriotism and highlighting the senator’s belief in not only the United States as a nation built on a constitution but also his belief in the power and value of its citizens.

“My name is Joe Biden,” the former Vice President said as he stepped up to the podium, getting a good-natured laugh from the crowd. “I’m a Democrat. And I loved John McCain,” he added, visibly overcome with emotion.

Biden went on to give a heartfelt tribute to McCain. At one point he invoked the memory of his son Beau Biden who — like the Arizona senator — died tragically of brain cancer. The major thrust of Biden’s remarks was focused around McCain’s devotion to the United States, and how his life and service can inspire all Americans.

It was a fitting dedication to a lifelong servant of the American people delivered by a man cut from the same cloth.

"Above all, we understood the same thing, all politics is personal. It's all about trust. I trusted John with my life, and I would, and I think he would trust me with his," Joe Biden says of John McCain. https://t.co/yslvNFA49Opic.twitter.com/P7P1Xzdo41

"There's nothing anyone can say or do to ease the pain right now. But I pray, I pray you take some comfort knowing that because you shared John with all of us your whole life the world now shares with you the ache of John's death," Joe Biden says. https://t.co/yslvNFA49Opic.twitter.com/z1zBtBs4yS

"Even though John is no longer with us he left us pretty clear instructions. 'Believe always in the promise and greatness of America because nothing is inevitable here,'" Joe Biden says at John McCain's memorial service. https://t.co/yslvNFA49Opic.twitter.com/2lYmjiuJuW

"Even though John is no longer with us he left us pretty clear instructions. 'Believe always in the promise and greatness of America because nothing is inevitable here,'" Joe Biden says at John McCain's memorial service. https://t.co/yslvNFA49Opic.twitter.com/2lYmjiuJuW